WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Army officials in Washington announced that the Army intends to deploy its new Land Warrior System within a year.
The Army News Service reported on Nov. 20 that deployment of the system will bring the Pentagon closer to its gaol of integrating computers and advanced technology on the battlefield down to the level of the individual soldier.
The Land Warrior System underwent successful field-testing last summer.
The Land Warrior System consists, a wearable, computerized system incorporating lasers, navigation modules, radios and other advanced technology to assist soldiers in communicating and fulfilling their battlefield responsibilities more accurately.
The 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, at Fort Lewis, Wash. evaluated the Land Warrior package for three months during the summer, which was followed by an Army Evaluation Command Limited User Test in September and October.
Lt. Col. Bill Prior, 4th Battalion commander said, "The '4-9' has been training for anticipated deployment next summer. Based on assessment results, it looks like we will deploy with the new Land Warrior and Mounted Warrior systems."
Infantry troops for the first time will be carrying digital equipment designed to ameliorate some chronic battlefield problems, such as locating other infantryman, identifying the enemy and getting orders in "real time."
Program Executive Office Soldier commander, Brig. Gen. Mark Brown, said, "Thanks to the successful demonstration at Fort Lewis, we now have the first Army unit ready to go real-world operational with Land Warrior capabilities. Land Warrior marks the path forward to a more capable, lighter-weight ground Soldier system. The leadership of the Army takes great pains and great care to ensure that our soldiers are well equipped, well trained and well organized to accomplish the mission that the nation sends them on."
